Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our July/August buddy read of Detection Unlimited by Georgette Heyer

Published in 1953 this is the fourth book in the Inspector Hemingway series and Book 12 in the Country House Mysteries series. It is the final mystery by Georgette Heyer and brings to a conclusion another of our buddy read series.

Slumped on a seat under an oak tree is old Sampson Warrenby, with a bullet through his brain. He is discovered by his anxious niece, Mavis, who is just one of the the people in the village in the running for chief suspect, having just cause to dislike Warrenby intensely. Only Chief Inspector Hemingway can uncover which of the ten has turned hatred into murder.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

It's the weekend and nearly the middle of the month, so let's open up our latest batch of buddy reads. Thank you, Susan, for setting up the threads :)

Who is reading this one? I found it an enjoyable read and am sad that it's the last in this series.
The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

As I mentioned in another thread, I was really amused by Mrs Midgeholme, owner of numerous Peke dogs with names beginning with 'U'! I would have liked to see more of her, but every time she comes in she is hilarious.

Interestingly, we don't have a family in a stately home in this one, as in many of Heyer's mysteries. Instead, it's about a number of people in a village, with various rivalries and tensions bubbling under the surface.

I will read this again - another one now available as a narration by Matt Addis, who is so much better than the previous narrator.

A lot of the names here are place names up in Cumbria - Midgeholme is a village on the moors north of Alston. Is Alston a character?

I hadn't realised Midgeholme was a place name, thank you, Rosina! I don't think there is an Alston in this, although there are a lot of characters - I thought I might have to make a list, but then one of the detectives helpfully recapped on who everyone is.

Does anyone else think that a lot of the covers of the Georgette Heyer mysteries are terrible? The edition I read has the cover shown at the top of this thread, with a lot of pink, and a random woman wearing loads of make-up, who I think may be looking into a mirror. Nothing to do with the story. If publishers came up with some better covers, more people might discover this series! Sorry, rant over.

I agree about the covers - the summer landscape for Envious Casca is ridiculous. I looked at the cover picture above and thought it must be Duplicate Death. She looks a bit like the hostess from that book.

I don’t think my paperback cover is much better:

I’ve read this a couple times now, and enjoyed my reread very much! I struggled with the multiple characters at first, but as always, I get the hang of them after a few chapters. Mrs. Midgeholme was a delight every time she came into the story-I just enjoy reading about Hemingway’s encounters with everyone.

I've read this so many times I don't plan to re-read now, but I've always enjoyed it. The village and all the characters are a lot of fun.

I have just started and am not much beyond meeting the Pekes. It is a reread but that doesn't mean I remember much. Heyer has already worked in a complaint about taxes.

I don't think I have read this one before. Just started, but sad to come to the end of Heyer's mysteries.

Susan in NC wrote: "I don’t think my paperback cover is much better: "

Maybe a bit better but still rather anonymous - it would be great to see covers with more character.

True - honestly looks looks like an old print advertisement For face cream or something!

Perhaps it's all her romances that have led to a cover designed not to alienate all her fans?

I have been looking at names - and this is just the first chapter!
Drybeck, near Appleby-in-Westmoreland (now Cumbria)
Midgeholme, as I said, north of Alston
Haswell - near Durham
Warrenby, on the East Coast, near Middlesborough
Dockray, near Penrith
Lindale, Cumbria
Plenmeller, near Haltwhistle
Patterdale, Lake District (so Cumbria)
Cliburn, near Penrith
Brotherlee, near Bishop Auckland (Durham)
Churnsike, Cumbria
Ainstable, Carlisle
Dearham, Maryport, Cumbria

Nine in what is now Cumbria, and the other four from the North East/Tyne and Wear area.

Susan wrote: "Perhaps it's all her romances that have led to a cover designed not to alienate all her fans?"

That actually makes sense, having a collection of her paperback books reissued in the last 15 years or so…

Judy wrote: "As I mentioned in another thread, I was really amused by Mrs Midgeholme, owner of numerous Peke dogs with names beginning with 'U'! I would have liked to see more of her, but every time she comes i..."

Having just finished Duplicate Death before starting this one, I notice both books have a middle-aged woman who does annoying baby-talk and mother/fathering people who aren't her parents-the nanny in DD and now the Peke owner in this one. Kind of sets my teeth on edge, a bit like the constant tossing about of Gaelic phrases in the last one-does this happen here? Hemingway hasn't shown up yet so I don't know who his sidekick will be.

My cover definitely looks mysterious

Also, this book could definitely use a map and cast of characters at the beginning!

My paperback has a map, but not a cast list. It cost 2/6 - it's that old! (That's two shilling and six pence, or half a crown).

. Published in 1962, and I'm not sure that the cover is any more relevant than the later ones.

I’m over half way through and have yet to meet the saucy blonde in a black negligée…

lol!

Frances wrote: "I’m over half way through and have yet to meet the saucy blonde in a black negligée…"

It's not Mavis - she doesn't have anything black to wear as mourning.

Once upon a time I had a paperback copy with a map of the village: very helpful.

I remember the cook, Gladys, being blonde.

Oh, right, and Hemingway was chatting her up and she said, “Sauce!” Which I found hilarious!

Susan in NC wrote: "Oh, right, and Hemingway was chatting her up and she said, “Sauce!” Which I found hilarious!"

Just came to that bit! OK Rosina’s cover gets a pass!

That outfit, or lack of outfit, is very much a 60s cover!

Groovy, baby!

lol, I love that Hemingway is constantly getting friendly with the women.

I found Hemingway a bit too pleased with himself at times, is it just me?

Judy wrote: "I found Hemingway a bit too pleased with himself at times, is it just me?"

Oh, no, he’s always been like that, part of his “flair”, as he calls it!

Jackie wrote: "lol, I love that Hemingway is constantly getting friendly with the women."

I like how he just lets people talk, and knows how to listen. My husband is like that, very helpful professionally ;o)

I am enjoying this one and am nearly halfway through. Haven't had much reading time and am SO behind, but hope to do some catching up this week.

Good to hear you are enjoying it, Susan.

I will be sad when I finish the last of her crime books.

I’m in a Georgette Heyer group on GR, and we’ve reread her books a few times over the years - I find her mysteries (but for one I refuse to reread) hold up quite well.

Which one did you dislike/object to, Susan? I think they are a mixed bunch, but overall I have enjoyed them.

Apologies if this is anyone’s favorite, but it’s Death in the Stocks. The artist and his sister, both suspects in a murder, are both rude and obnoxious, and the family lawyer investigates and almost pushes Hannasyde and Hemingway (his sergeant) off stage. It felt as if Heyer wasn’t quite sure if she’d have an amateur detective lawyer as her hero, or the Scotland Yard pros. And there wasn’t as much humor - there were a few entertaining characters, but not enough!

I am convinced that Heyer thought all families are difunctional. I wonder what her own was like.

Susan in NC wrote: "Apologies if this is anyone’s favorite, but it’s Death in the Stocks. The artist and his sister, both suspects in a murder, are both rude and obnoxious, and the family lawyer investi..."

I think I felt the same way-this was my review from the beginning of our read:

This was the first Georgette Heyer I've read, and the first in her 9 or so volume series of mysteries set among the bright young things in 1920's/30's London. It was a fun read, a decent mystery though not particularly difficult to solve, and the detectives and the amateur detective seemed decent sorts, but the bright young things themselves started to wear on one quite early on. I'll try another at some point, but not sure I'll go through the whole series if they are all similar to this one.

So I'm really glad I stuck with them as I enjoyed the rest more as well, Susan!

Frances wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Apologies if this is anyone’s favorite, but it’s Death in the Stocks. The artist and his sister, both suspects in a murder, are both rude and obnoxious, and the f..."

lol! Good on you, I don’t know if I would be such a Heyer fan if I’d read that book first!

Susan wrote

Apologies if this is anyone’s favorite, but it’s Death in the Stocks.

I thought you were going to say Penhallow which I don't like.
I enjoy Death in the Stocks.

Different strokes!

Jackie wrote: "Susan wrote

Apologies if this is anyone’s favorite, but it’s Death in the Stocks.

I thought you were going to say Penhallow which I don't like.
I enjoy Death in the Stocks.

Diff..."

I’ve never tried Penhallow, after hearing nothing good about it in the Heyer group!

I skipped penhallow as well when I realized it wasn’t the detectives of this series.

I liked Penhallow. I was initially put off by the reviews, but I think you need to approach it as not a typical Heyer.

The siblings in stocks were annoying, I agree! I didn't mind it, but I take the point.

I am at the part where Tuppence goes undercover as a maid, which seems very unlikely! She is a spirited young lady and will undoubtedly quickly get into trouble...

Susan wrote:

I liked Penhallow. I was initially put off by the reviews, but I think you need to approach it as not a typical Heyer.

that's a very good point. it's worth re-thinking this book since, decades ago now, I didn't like any of Heyer's mysteries and now I really love some of them. The more I gave up expecting the mysteries to be like the romances the more I could enjoy them.

My latest re-ready of Heyer was Cousin Kate which is very different, and I enjoyed it much more than I used to. Again, after giving up expectations.

I am at the part where Tuppence goes undercover as a maid

I am past that part but I remember how she clearly enjoyed the "dress up" part of the procedure, and used make up to disguise herself. (could you really make that much difference with an eyebrow pencil?)

Susan wrote: "I am at the part where Tuppence goes undercover as a maid, which seems very unlikely! She is a spirited young lady and will undoubtedly quickly get into trouble..."

Luckily, the drudgery jobs she endured while serving in the WWI hospital prepared her…